Carry On

A new day, a new way, and new eyes
To see the dawn.
(Crosby Stills Nash & Young – Carry On)

Well, well…what have we here? Our own new dawn, on a whole new year, for a whole lot of new hope, new peace, new love…

From your market managers, to you, we wish you a very happy new year in this 2017.

I picked this song because I find that sinking into Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young is what I have always done when I need to lose myself, lose my thoughts, let my mind meander all over the place. This song is a perfect jump off into the new unknown. It’s from one of my favorite albums, Deja Vu…which, I still have a beat up album in my collection, along with another one I must have picked up in my musical travels.

The title, alone, Deja Vu, has more meaning than you can know, for your market manager as she crosses into this new time, new year, new adventures.

“A feeling of having already experienced the present situation”

Groovy, man…Deja Vu…

Each year, as I meander through December, I begin to think ahead. What do I want in the year to come? What do I want to make of it? What is my theme? No resolutions. A theme. A mantra. Each year, I have known, just perfectly, where my life or business was taking me, or better yet, where I wanted to take it.

2106 threw me quite a lot. An additional new business, another year’s lease at my downtown shop, the new business exploding into a popularity, not imagined. The same crazy pace in the summer with farmers markets, Art Affair that I still co-chair, stepping away from venues, embracing new venues, running my shop, running this market, baking, and wondering if I had one ounce of sanity left in my over crowded life, brain, businesses. The nagging question began…how do I Carry On? (Get it? Clever, with this theme and all…lol)

I began to peel away the things that no longer brought me joy or excitement. I had some serious talks with your co-manager of this market. I had heart to hearts with my tribe, my best pals, old friends, new friends, anyone who would listen, basically. At that point, I felt that I would step away as your market manager, giving me even more free time.

And, then I got sick. In mid November I got sick, and to be honest, I have never been that sick. And, it lingered. And I didn’t get out of bed, and on some of those days, I actually began to think of who would get my vintage wardrobe, who would get my vinyl collection, who would remember me, fondly? You think I am being dramatic, but I was just that sick.

But, the only good thing about that time span was that it made me have to stay in bed, have to rest, have to have these colorful, tapestry like dreams, that vividly showed me where I should be going.

The result…I got better, I got stronger, and I was thinking more clearly than I have been able to think in so long. My conclusions are what will bring this whole rambling Weblog home, I promise.

My heart, my soul, my joy are with my Cosmic baking business, my Hippie and the Farmer business, my vintage/hippie clothing business, and, THIS MARKET.

The joy that was being sucked out of me was my actual shop. My cute little downtown shop of the past two years, was the one thing that was making me crazy. I am so busy, on a daily basis, with my other businesses, baking, delivering, taking on new clients, that it was getting too much to try to also race to my shop. I discovered, more than ever that I am a free spirit, not a girl chained to a shop, every day, kind of spirit. So, at the beginning of December, I opted not to renew my lease for another year. I packed up, and I have moved, and, it’s been the most mind freeing, free floating decision for me.

The result? I took back what I love. That includes this market. Both Mark and I will remain your market managers, after discussions with both Paul, and the YMCA staff. We are going into year 6, we have surpassed what anyone ever thought we would do, and I would like to be instrumental in where this market continues to go. But, we do have a cool, happening, loyal market customer, Polly, who will begin to learn the Thursday afternoon/evening gig, on the days that get to be too much for me to be at pick up!!

Other results…I stepped away from the Mechanicsburg Farmers and Artisans market as manager, after a long run. I am stepping away from vending at all farmers markets, unless I feel the wind is taking me in that direction, but at my desire. I have given up my shop. I exited the downtown board, last year, but will remain on Art Affair. I am moving my vintage/hippie/dress up clothing to a private studio/loft, but also heading back to a little pop up spot, in a large boutique, that will take care of my sales, but I do not have to be there, on a daily basis. And, I get to jump back into my writing, my blogging, and my chronicles of outfit pictures, food blogging, and the continued efforts at that never forgotten novel that I carve away at, via many, many journals.

So, my mantra for this year is…“I don’t know exactly where I am going, but that’s the beauty of it”

I have taken me back. And, in turn, I now Carry On, as your market manager…

Deja Vu never felt so amazing…while I am returning to things of my past that brought me great joy and love, I feel a renewed energy…

So, go dust off some of your Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, let your mind go on your own soul journey, and while doing so, place some groovy orders, man…

Orders, and your love make this market go round and round…

XOXO,
Cosmic Pam